Today I have signed into law H.R. 5630, the "Intelligence Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2001." I am pleased that the Act no longer contains
the badly flawed provision that would have made a felony of unauthorized
disclosures of classified information, and that was the basis for my
veto of a previous version of this legislation. I thank the Congress
for working with me to produce a bill that I can sign.

I appreciate the inclusion of section 308 concerning the applicability
of Federal laws implementing international treaties and other
international agreements to United States intelligence activities.
Section 308 applies only to intelligence activities of the United States
and addresses particular concerns regarding the potential application of
future United States domestic laws implementing international agreements
to otherwise lawful and appropriately authorized intelligence
activities. This provision does not in any way address the proper
interpretation of pre-existing implementing legislation or other United
States statutes, nor does it in any way address other United States
Government activities.

Title VIII of the Act sets forth requirements governing the
declassification and disclosure of Japanese Imperial Army records, as
defined by the Act. The executive branch has previously been
declassifying United States Government records related to Japanese war
crimes under the provisions of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act,
Public Law 105-246; consequently, I understand that title VIII does not
apply to records undergoing declassification pursuant to the Nazi War
Crimes Disclosure Act.

Finally, I acknowledge the efforts of the Congress to bring about a more
capable, secure, and effective Diplomatic Telecommunications System. I
am concerned, however, that the proposed changes for the Diplomatic
Telecommunications Service Program Office do not yet represent the best
methods for improving the management of this system. As the executive
branch implements this legislation, I encourage the Congress to work
with the executive branch to consider alternatives for further
improvements.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 27, 2000.

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